Loek Eggermont

Active anti-cancer immune responses are dependent on efficient presentation of tumor antigens and co-stimulatory signals by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). For this purpose, natural APCs have been used in immune therapies, but isolation and culture of autologous APCs is costly, time-consuming and has resulted in variable outcomes. Therefore, development of artificial APCs (aAPCs) has gained significant interest as an alternative. We developed a new class of semi-ﬂexible, ﬁlamentous polymers that can be decorated with T-cell activating effector molecules. These nanoworms, when conjugated to activating antibodies against CD3 and co-stimulatory molecules, are biocompatible aAPCs that can induce robust T cell responses.